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How to find/outsource IM help?

by fsp
20 replies
Hi. I've spent a couple of hours looking through this forum and I can't figure out where to post this. So I apologize if this is in the wrong place (please let me know where it should go).

I have a business I've been building for 4 years. I'm not an IM expert (though I've had to learn a lot of its principles) so I did it backwards to what you guys would probably suggest. My goal was to solve a problem within my industry, so I built the product first, and made selling it secondary. The problem is that now that it's built, I need help marketing it, and IM is a daunting world that's outside my area of expertise. I've done pretty well, but it's time to get some help and maybe partner with people to take it to the next level.

The problem is that just evaluating the possibilities is a huge job, let alone actually doing that work. I need some help.

So... where do I post for help? I've consistently converted about 1-2% on an $800 product (I've got a great hook and a great product), but it could be much more successful than that and I just can't do the IM work on my own. So where does one go to find people who already have the skills and are passionate about IM, and want to team up?

Thanks for any advice or guidance you can offer... and please go easy on the noob.
#find or outsource
  • Profile picture of the author ElijahM
    I use odesk for the majority of my outsourcing. This forum also has lots of listings of different skills available for hire.
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  • Profile picture of the author STMN
    Originally Posted by fsp View Post

    Hi. I've spent a couple of hours looking through this forum and I can't figure out where to post this. So I apologize if this is in the wrong place (please let me know where it should go).

    I have a business I've been building for 4 years. I'm not an IM expert (though I've had to learn a lot of its principles) so I did it backwards to what you guys would probably suggest. My goal was to solve a problem within my industry, so I built the product first, and made selling it secondary. The problem is that now that it's built, I need help marketing it, and IM is a daunting world that's outside my area of expertise. I've done pretty well, but it's time to get some help and maybe partner with people to take it to the next level.

    The problem is that just evaluating the possibilities is a huge job, let alone actually doing that work. I need some help.

    So... where do I post for help? I've consistently converted about 1-2% on an $800 product (I've got a great hook and a great product), but it could be much more successful than that and I just can't do the IM work on my own. So where does one go to find people who already have the skills and are passionate about IM, and want to team up?

    Thanks for any advice or guidance you can offer... and please go easy on the noob.
    First let me say congrats on your product. Next maybe you want to find JV's and do a launch for our product with the right JV you can bring in some you cash. You will have an email lists of people who are ready to buy and you will make an impact in the niche..
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    • Profile picture of the author thedark
      Originally Posted by Omane Fowler View Post

      First let me say congrats on your product. Next maybe you want to find JV's and do a launch for our product with the right JV you can bring in some you cash. You will have an email lists of people who are ready to buy and you will make an impact in the niche..
      I would stay away from WSO. They are good only for cheap info products that people buy and buy again. No serious buyers.

      It seems that you have a great product that you managed to sell $800 copies. Can I ask you what it is about.

      I can also suggest you to go to the JV forum but look for a professional Internet Marketer who can build long term audience for your product. Also, for such a great price you should really consider google adwords or other ppc. I have a $9 reoccurring product and I can still get a good price for clicks on adwords.
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      • Profile picture of the author jjmags1219
        hi there, there are a lot to choose from but among the lists, here are the top 3: Odesk, Elance and Onlinejobs.ph.
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        • Profile picture of the author fsp
          Sorry if I wasn't clear. I've used oDesk, Elance, and Freelancer over the years. I've even tried Onlinejobs.php. I'm not looking to simply outsource jobs. IM is not my field of expertise and it's simply too time-consuming to spend the time and energy becoming an expert in it, when a) others are already passionate about it, and b) it only takes away from my main business and passion, which is what I am expert in.

          That I have had modest success to date is a direct results of my own efforts to do the IM thing. I remain convinced that there are others out there who are much better at it than I am, and who LIKE it more than I do and want to spend their time doing it (and probably generate much better results). My assumption is that those kinds of people would probably be visit a forum like this regularly. The question is how do I connect with them in an effort to team up (so that they do the IM work and I can go back to what I was doing before I created this solution to a problem within my industry)?

          It's not really outsourcing help I'm looking for, though I thank everyone who has replied with those ideas.
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      • Profile picture of the author fsp
        Originally Posted by thedark View Post

        I would stay away from WSO. They are good only for cheap info products that people buy and buy again. No serious buyers.

        It seems that you have a great product that you managed to sell $800 copies. Can I ask you what it is about.
        Thanks for the suggestion -- I figured WSO is probably not right for me. As for the product I offer, I'd rather not say publicly as I'm not attempting to advertise it here.

        I can also suggest you to go to the JV forum but look for a professional Internet Marketer who can build long term audience for your product. Also, for such a great price you should really consider google adwords or other ppc. I have a $9 reoccurring product and I can still get a good price for clicks on adwords.
        Yeah, I haven't done Adwords for this product, and you're right, it's probably a great idea. But that highlights my problem. It would take me weeks to get good at Adwords campaigns, and I simply don't have the tim or energy to become a master at that kind of marketing. My goal is to find someone who is already a master of it, who would want to work with someone who's already got a proven product with a good base conversion rate. I'm not really looking to swarm the world with affiliates; I'd rather find someone who could be a team member and handle all of that side of things.

        I'm not really familiar with how JV's work, so if you could point to some links that give me an overview, that would be great. Thanks guys!
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  • Profile picture of the author thedanbrown
    odesk, elance, warrior forum
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  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    ODesk, Elance etc can prove tricky if you are not specific enough about your IM objectives or sharp enough to spot dodgy freelancers. Ziptask - Fully Managed Outsourcing is a better choice for many as you are given an experienced project manager who deals directly with high quality freelancers. If you are doing 1-2% on $800 products, then I'm sure the slightly higher charges will be fine. You get what you pay for, go for quality!

    PS - fsp, your thread subject line is misleading IMO.
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    • Profile picture of the author fsp
      Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

      fsp, your thread subject line is misleading IMO.
      How so? What should I change it to?
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      • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
        Originally Posted by fsp View Post

        How so? What should I change it to?
        You say: (quote) 'It's not really outsourcing help I'm looking for, though I thank everyone who has replied with those ideas.'

        Your original post states you want people to help you with your IM work - to 'team up' with. And where to find these people (to do the work)? = OUTSOURCING! :confused::confused:

        Thanks for reading.
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        "The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." - Mark Russell
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        • Profile picture of the author fsp
          Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

          You say: (quote) 'It's not really outsourcing help I'm looking for, though I thank everyone who has replied with those ideas.'

          Your original post states you want people to help you with your IM work - to 'team up' with. And where to find these people (to do the work)? = OUTSOURCING! :confused::confused:
          When we think of outsourcing, we think of outsourcing the tasks, as if we are the manager of the job itself. For example, finding a person to write Google Adwords or to write a sales page -- sure, one could outsource to oDesk, Elance, etc.

          But I'm looking to outsource the whole thing, i.e., find a manager/partner/expert who would then (probably) outsource the tasks.

          Sorry for the confusion, but you can't exactly go on oDesk and post a job for "marketing wiz to handle all marketing". In my experience, you'll get plenty of replies and not-a-one that's actually capable. That's why I was trying to post here. My assumption is that people on this forum are passionate about this stuff, and would be able to handle it all. I just want to know where to go to reach out to them.

          Thank you to @salesgurus for posting the apparent answer. (Can't figure out how to thank them on the forum software.) [EDIT: Just figured it out; the thanks button wasn't there a second ago.]
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          • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
            Originally Posted by fsp View Post

            When we think of outsourcing, we think of outsourcing the tasks, as if we are the manager of the job itself. For example, finding a person to write Google Adwords or to write a sales page -- sure, one could outsource to oDesk, Elance, etc.

            But I'm looking to outsource the whole thing, i.e., find a manager/partner/expert who would then (probably) outsource the tasks.

            Sorry for the confusion, but you can't exactly go on oDesk and post a job for "marketing wiz to handle all marketing". In my experience, you'll get plenty of replies and not-a-one that's actually capable. That's why I was trying to post here. My assumption is that people on this forum are passionate about this stuff, and would be able to handle it all. I just want to know where to go to reach out to them.

            Thank you to @salesgurus for posting the apparent answer. (Can't figure out how to thank them on the forum software.) [EDIT: Just figured it out; the thanks button wasn't there a second ago.]
            Thanks. I still think Ziptask - Fully Managed Outsourcing may be worth your while.
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            "The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." - Mark Russell
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            • Profile picture of the author fsp
              Originally Posted by David Braybrooke View Post

              Thanks. I still think Ziptask - Fully Managed Outsourcing may be worth your while.
              I've just looked at this. It appears more suited to technical projects, but I've started a project to speak with someone and test it out. Thanks for the suggestion!
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              • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
                Originally Posted by fsp View Post

                I've just looked at this. It appears more suited to technical projects, but I've started a project to speak with someone and test it out. Thanks for the suggestion!
                It tackles what Elance and ODesk does but more efficiently. 'Ziptask describes itself as "a turnkey, cloud-based platform for managing outsourced labor."'
                No reference to being more suited to technical projects. Does what you want it to (in regards to freelancing).
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                "The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage." - Mark Russell
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                • Profile picture of the author jamescastle
                  Freelancer works good as well.

                  However, it looks like you're looking for more of a partner than outsourcing really. I mean I work with marketing and could help but it'd be of no use for you in the long run since what you need is a JV, a partner to share the project with, not hire someone to do some work for you. At least in my opinion.

                  JV's can easily be found here or on other marketing forums, or if you know someone personally it's even better.
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I think this is more along the lines of what you are looking for:
    Warrior Joint Ventures
    or
    Wanted - Members Looking To Hire You
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    Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

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    • Profile picture of the author fsp
      Strange. There really isn't a place here for someone who can't afford the time to become an IMer and just wants to reach out to them:

      Warrior Joint Ventures
      ...requires 50 posts on the forum first. And:
      Wanted - Members Looking To Hire You
      ...is about finding people to do the tasks.

      I would've thought it would be easier to do what I'm trying to do.

      Appreciate the help, in any event.
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  • Profile picture of the author 10kaday
    I love to work with elance.
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Don't overpay. If you can reduce your tasks into small bite-sized easy to monitor/easy to track pieces, you'd make more money and get better ROI from your outsourced assistants. Ask for guarantees.
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  • Profile picture of the author mgsmith
    I use Odesk and there are a lot of great freelancers there.
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    Mike

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